Dems Ask Amazon & Facebook To Not Push FTC Chair Khan’s Recusal

A group of Democrats urged Amazon and Facebook to stop campaigning for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan’s recusal from their antitrust matters, reported CNBC.

“Your efforts only add to the perception that you are attempting to bully your regulators, disarm the FTC, and avoid accountability rather than to strengthen ethics standards, and you should cease these efforts immediately,” wrote Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Democrat – Massachussetts), Richard Blumenthal (Democrat – Connecticut), Cory Booker (Democrat – New Jersey), and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Democrat – Washington).

Both companies have filed petitions for recusal requesting Khan refrain from participating in antitrust matters involving their businesses. They pointed to past statements by Khan and her former employers as evidence that she has prejudged their cases and already determined their liability.

Related: Facebook Asks For US FTC Chair Lina Khan’s Recusal

The FTC has not yet taken action against Amazon on antitrust grounds, though it has reportedly probed the business. But Facebook is in the midst of fighting a legal challenge from the agency. Though a judge threw out the FTC’s initial complaint against Facebook, which alleged the social media company illegally maintained monopoly power, the FTC has until August 19 to file an amended complaint.

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